Dietary studies are essential to unravel the functioning of ecosystems and ultimately to understand biodiversity.This task,which at first may seem simple,becomes especially complex in those cases of omnivorous species...Dietary studies are essential to unravel the functioning of ecosystems and ultimately to understand biodiversity.This task,which at first may seem simple,becomes especially complex in those cases of omnivorous species with highly variable diets.In this regard,the emergence of next-generation DNA sequencing methodologies represents a powerful tool to address the problem.Here we implement a high-throughput metabarcoding strategy based on the analysis of four molecular markers aimed at sequencing both mitochondrial(animal prey)and chloroplast(diet plants)genome fragments from fecal samples of two lizard species endemic to the Balearic Archipelago(Podarcis lilfordi and P.pityusensis)obtained through non-invasive methods.The results allowed for the characterization of their diets with a high degree of taxonomic detail and have contributed a large number of new trophic records.The reported diets are based mainly on the consumption of arthropods,mollusks and plants from a diversity of taxonomic orders,as well as carrion and marine subsidies.Our analyses also reveal inter-and intra-specific differences both in terms of seasonality and geographical distribution of the sampled lizard populations.These molecular findings provide new insights into the trophic interactions of these threatened endemic lizards in their unique and isolated ecosystems.展开更多
基金This study was possible thanks to the project:CGL2015-68139-C2-1-P“Dinámica de la variación genética y respuesta adaptativa en las Podarcis insulares”financed by of the Ministerio Español de Economia y competitividad and European Regional Development Fund(ERDF)IA supported by FPI/2006/2017 and research funds from the Conselleria d’Educació,Cultura i Universitats(Govern de les Illes Balears,Spain),co-financed by the ERDF.
文摘Dietary studies are essential to unravel the functioning of ecosystems and ultimately to understand biodiversity.This task,which at first may seem simple,becomes especially complex in those cases of omnivorous species with highly variable diets.In this regard,the emergence of next-generation DNA sequencing methodologies represents a powerful tool to address the problem.Here we implement a high-throughput metabarcoding strategy based on the analysis of four molecular markers aimed at sequencing both mitochondrial(animal prey)and chloroplast(diet plants)genome fragments from fecal samples of two lizard species endemic to the Balearic Archipelago(Podarcis lilfordi and P.pityusensis)obtained through non-invasive methods.The results allowed for the characterization of their diets with a high degree of taxonomic detail and have contributed a large number of new trophic records.The reported diets are based mainly on the consumption of arthropods,mollusks and plants from a diversity of taxonomic orders,as well as carrion and marine subsidies.Our analyses also reveal inter-and intra-specific differences both in terms of seasonality and geographical distribution of the sampled lizard populations.These molecular findings provide new insights into the trophic interactions of these threatened endemic lizards in their unique and isolated ecosystems.
